The morning broke softly on ShenLou Sect the following morning. The mountain breeze rustled gently through the courtyards as the disciples stirred in their beds. Despite the earliness of the hour, the compound of the sect hummed with subdued discipline—gray-blue-robed forms bustled about with a purpose, washing, stretching, and getting ready for morning drills.
Isshin, Rune, and Karin followed behind, splashing water on their faces at the stream near their quarters. Strong as they were, they were still outer disciples. Rank wasn't the only factor at ShenLou—standards were strict and there were still second- and third-year cultivators in the outer ranks. Outstanding first-years, however, could quickly ascend.
They stood in line in the courtyard with dozens of other disciples for morning practice. A peaceful formation. Respiratory exercises. Slow movement. It was not meant to exhaust them, but to condition the body and mind prior to the day ever really starting. The instructor said little—his very presence was sufficient to keep all eyes on him.
They then proceeded to the dining hall. What had happened the day before had not passed unnoticed. When they took a seat at one of the long stone tables and came into the hall, they sensed the glares—though no one said anything.
It took a few minutes, but the girl who had battled Karin came out with her tray and took a seat beside Isshin without any hesitation. Her black hair was pulled back, and her stoic demeanor was the same.
She set down her tray and looked at them. "My name's Vivi," she said. "Nice to meet you.".
Karin inclined her head. "Karin. Nice to meet you too."
"Rune," Rune replied. "You were strong yesterday."
Isshin glanced over and replied, "Isshin. Similarly."
Vivi returned to eating but paused again to look at them once more. "You're new here, aren't you? What rank are you?"
Rune replied first. "Nascent Soul Realm, first stage.".
Same here," said Karin.
Isshin did not lift his head from his bowl. "Nascent Soul Realm, third stage."
Vivi nodded. "I'm at first stage too."
Opposite her, Karin was silent just staring at Vivi and Isshin. She glanced at her food but wasn't eating. Her mind was elsewhere.
There was a silence before Isshin continued. "Who's strongest of the outer disciples?"
Vivi responded promptly. "Jun. She is capable enough to be an inner disciple—more than capable. But she hasn't been promoted yet."
Isshin rocked back a little. "Why not?"
"She simply hasn't, that's all." Vivi's face did not change, as if the question was not very interesting to her. "She doesn't look for praise."
Karin sat quietly across the table. She stared at her food but was not eating. Her thoughts were elsewhere.
Vivi then looked at Isshin. "Do you want to have a look around the sect? I could give you a tour."
"Alright," said Isshin. "Follow me, everyone."
The four of them walked along the main corridors of the sect, the mountain air crisp and cold as the mist slowly dispersed. Vivi led the way, speaking only when absolutely necessary.
"That's the duel area," she said, pointing to a large stone courtyard. "Most sparring takes place there. An elder might watch sometimes."
They walked by a small, rounded structure where the smell of heat and herbs drifted through the windows.
Alchemy room. You'll require permission to concoct anything yourself, but pills from here are issued to disciples who go on missions.
Further along the way was a high tower partly constructed into the mountain.
That's the library. We can use the first and second floor. Techniques, manuals, theory. The higher floors are for inner disciples and above. And finally, they came to a grand stone plaza. At its distant end stood a large wooden gate with dragon, cloud, and snarling beast carvings. That's the division gate," Vivi said. "The inner sect is beyond it. Outer disciples can't go through unless summoned or promoted.". The door loomed over them—motionless, silent. It felt an obstacle not just of stone and wood, but of status and direction.